Meningitis patient still in critical condition

Kansas City, Kan. — The Kansas University senior who was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis Wednesday remained in critical condition Saturday evening, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Andy Marso, 22, St. Cloud, Minn., spent his fourth straight day on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.

Louise Stauffer, Marso’s friend and co-worker at The University Daily Kansan, KU’s student newspaper, visited Marso Saturday and said he had opened his eyes several times and was conscious.

The disease causes inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord and is fatal for about one in eight patients.

Myra Strother, chief of staff for Watkins Memorial Health Center, said Friday that it could take weeks to recover from the illness.

Community

Auto club swap meet draws thousands

Lawrence Johnson was happy Saturday afternoon as he walked away from the 41st annual Lawrence Region Antique Auto Club of America swap meet.

The Eudora resident carried a red Dale Earnhardt street sign and a fistful of gauges. “I always come here every year,” Johnson said.

Johnson had plenty of company as the usual crowd of car-parts shoppers and swappers converged by the thousands on the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St.

More than 600 vendors were selling or swapping auto parts.

Patrick Wagner, of Auburn, above, stacks a set of tires Saturday at the swap meet.

The meet reopens at 7 a.m. today and concludes at noon.

Kansas University

Statewide event to focus on children’s fitness

More than 600 third-graders from the Lawrence area will be at Kansas University on May 7 for the 2004 Kansas Kids Fitness and Safety Day.

The event, sponsored by the Kansas Council on Fitness, the Kansas SAFE KIDS Coalition and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, includes physical activities at the Anschutz Sports Pavilion.

More than 17,000 students will participate at 38 sites across the state.

Teachers and parents involved will receive a T-shirt, and children will receive a jump rope.

Higher education

KU joins academic forces with university in France

Kansas University and the University of Paris-Sorbonne have signed an agreement to pursue collaborations between the two schools.

Diana Carlin, dean of the Graduate School and International Programs, signed the agreement during a March trip to Paris.

The two institutions have agreed to joint research activities, scholar exchanges, jointly sponsored activities such as symposiums and study abroad programs and exchanges of academic materials.

KU has similar agreements with about 40 universities around the world.

The University of Paris-Sorbonne is one of the largest universities in France, with about 40,000 students enrolled in 14 departments.